Oh, Hey
We heard you’re ready to start planning your engagement session.
The information in this guide is meant to walk you through (almost) all of your engagement session-related questions, so you can chill out and get excited to soon say, “I do.”
We’re jazzed you’re here, and we can’t wait to get to know you better!
If you still have questions after scrolling through this, don’t hesitate to get in touch! We’re with you every step of the way.
info@chelsea-hall.com | 937.475.8111
Here to document the real shit
No Matter The Season
We all have our favorite time of the year. (If you’re wondering, it’s fall for us!)
While the timing of your engagement session may vary depending on when you’re hoping to seal the deal, here are our best tips for scheduling during any season.
spring
summer
fall
Not going to lie - our calendar books up quick during this season because it's one of the prettiest times of the year. Can we all agree fall weather freaking rocks? If your heart is set on an autumn engagement session, we recommend scheduling it ASAP.
winter
Mother Nature can be unpredictable
Here’s our Inclement weather plan
The Week Of Your Session
We'll check in with you the week-of to confirm the time and location, and the weather forecast, for your engagement session. If Mother Nature looks like she has other plans in mind, we typically try to make the call to reschedule for your rain date at least 12 hours in advance. That way, you won’t have to worry about getting gussied up for nothing!
Embrace the elements
And I don’t just mean the weather. I want you to embrace the rocks, the dirt, the wind blowing in your hair, and all the other spontaneous and “imperfect” elements. If it starts to rain, we’ll keep shooting and have fun with it! If we have to stop between each shot to flatten out your hair or fluff up your dress, the whole natural vibe will be thrown off. So just let it go.
Dreaming of an out-of-town adventure?
Ask Us About A Destination engagement session
We love to travel and would be more
than happy to join you!
Please note that travel fees will apply.
What to expect for your
Engagement session
Location
Pick an environment that reflects who you are! We suggest picking a location that is special and unique to your relationship. Did you meet at a coffee shop? Let’s go there!
What to Wear
Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! Patterns, bold colors, and accessories photograph really well. Feel free to get creative with your wardrobe!
don’t hold back
Don’t act the way you think you should - just be yourself! Embrace the goofy laughter or the quiet vulnerable moments.
Prepare right
If you’re super nervous, have a drink, a smoke, bring some snacks, or whatever calms your nerves.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help choosing your session location or outfits!
we love pets
If you don’t know by now, there’s no shame in Chelsea’s cat lady game. That’s why we love when couples choose to incorporate their pets into their session. Let us know if you’re hoping to do the same because we’ll typically need to scout out a pet-friendly location.
Tip #1
bring a handler
Tip #2
reward your furry friend
Tip #3
pamper them
Tips For A Badass Engagement session
Get your engagement ring cleaned.
We love to take up-close-and-personal shots of your ring. So, it's a good idea to either take it to your jeweler to be cleaned or clean it yourself at home before your engagement session. If you’re a fan of DIY, soak your ring for 20-40 minutes in warm water with dishwashing soap. Next, gently brush it with a soft bristle nail brush or toothbrush. Rinse and dab dry. Repeat if needed to make it shine real freakin’ bright.
If possible, take the day off.
You're not going to be your best, most genuine selves at the end of an errand-filled or stressful work day. That’s why we always encourage our couples to take it easy all day long. We’re talking about grabbing lunch, getting a drink, and relaxing together doing something you enjoy. When you allow for some downtime before we meet for your session, you'll be filled with love and excitement for each other. Oh, and you’ll look back on your engagement photos and remember what a great day you spent together!
Leave the extra stuff at home.
If you're planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they're 100% meaningful to you. Otherwise, leave the big bags and the extra stuff you think you might need at home. Carrying around extra "stuff" tends to make shooting all the little, spontaneous in-between moments more difficult.
Share it all with us.
We're all for curating a relaxed, simple documentary photography experience that genuinely produces photos that show off your rad, quirky self.
To do that, we'll have some good, honest conversations before your engagement session day arrives—so much so that you'll forget about the part where we're taking photos, and you'll feel nothing but comfortable being your truest, weirdest selves as you would if you were hanging out, just the two of you.
REMEMBER: WE’RE JUST HANGING OUT WHILE DOCUMENTING YOUR UNSCRIPTED LIFE. NO POSES. NO NEED TO LOOK PUT TOGETHER. SO, KICK BACK AND ENJOY YOUR TIME IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.
